Machine for sorting corks.



PATENTED DEC. 15. 1903 F. BBNDER. MACHINE FOR SORTING GORKS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 10. 1903;

N0 MODEL.

anwutoz auwmw UNITED STATES Tatented December 15, 1903 PATENT OFFICE.

MACHINE FOR SO-RTING CORKS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 746,916, dated December 15, 1903.

Application filed August It], 1903. ,Serial No. 169,060. [No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCISCO BENDER, of San Feliu de Guixols, Oatalonia, Spain, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Sorting Corks; and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

The present invention is an improved device especially designed for assorting and selecting corks to facilitate the separation of a particular size or sizes thereof from a large number of arious-sized corks; and it consists, essentially, in a reciprocating assorting-screeu of novel construction which can be used alone orin connection with the known conveniently-arranged sorting-table.

The novel features of the invention are summarized in the claims, and the following description of the apparatus as shown in the drawings will impart a sufficiently clear understanding thereof.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my novel screen in position on an assorting-table. Fig. 2 is a transverse section through Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view of the asserting-screen. Figs. 4 and 5 are enlarged top and side views of one of the assorting-cones detached.

The assorting tray or screen frame may be of any suitable shape or size. As shown, it is rectangular and open at top and bottom, but provided at a point above its lower edge with a horizontal partition B, which is provided'with a series of oval-shaped holes C, preferably arranged in longitudinal rows or series, and for convenience each series may be separated bya slight ridge or rib D, which will facilitate the entrance of the corks placed in the screen into the several openings.

Below each opening 0 is secured an assorting-cone E, the top of which is oval to correspond with the screen-opening C, while its lower end is reduced in area and made circular, as indicated in Fig. 4. The objects of this peculiar construction of the cones are to facilitate the entrance of the corks thereinto and to prevent any cork passing through the cones except those which are of lesser diameter than the reduced circulararea of the lower end of the cone. If a cork smaller in diameter than the lower diameter of the cone falls thereinto, it will pass on through; but if a cork smaller in diameter than the oval or upper end of the cone but larger in diameter than the lower circular end of the cone drops thereinto it will be arrested,no matter whet her it passes thereinto small end or large end first. The bottoms of the cones E are preferably arranged atsuch a distance above the lower edges of the screen-framethat the corks will not be prevented from passing through the cones by contact with the supporting-surface on whichthe screen-frame may rest.

A quantity of corks can be placed in the screen-frame and the latter held in the hands and shaken, so that the smaller corks will cscape; but for convenience in operation the screen-frame A maybe placed upon an operating-table E, which is provided with two hopper-shaped compartments e e. Rollers F are arranged over hopper e, and the screenfrarne can be placed thereon and easily shaken by reciprocating it back and forth upon the rollers. The corks pass through the cones and escape through the hopper e intoa has ket or receiver placed thereunder, while any larger corks which will not pass through the cones may be dumped by turning the screenframe upside down into the hopper 6.

Owing to the peculiar shape of the cones, any corks retained in the cones when the screen-frame is in its upright position over hopper 6 will readily disengage therefrom when the screen-frame is inverted over the hopper e.

In operation aquantityof unassorted corks of any ordinary kind or form are thrown into the screen-frame, which is then shaken, so that the corks will be distributed into the various cones E, through which the smaller corks will pass, while large corks will be retained in the cones and frame untildischarged by turning the frame upside down.

I do not limit myself to the specific form of screen-frame herein shown, the principalnovelty of the invention being the peculiarlyshaped separting-cones.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. In aoork-separating apparatus, a screen provided with a series of oval-shaped holes and cones beneath the holes having contracted circular bottom openings.

2. A cork assorting and separating tray or screen, having a series of openings ovalshaped at their upper ends and having contracted circular lower ends.

3. A cork assorting and separating tray or screen, having a series of oval-shaped openings, and cones beneath said openings ovalshaped at their upper ends and having contracted circular lower ends.

4:. A cork assorting and separating tray or screen, having a series of openings, ovalshaped at top and having contracted circular lower ends, said openings being arranged in longitudinal series, with longitudinal ribs or projections on the upper side of the screen, between the longitudinal series of openings.

5. A cork assorting and separating tray or screen, having a series of openings, and cones beneath said openings oval-shaped at their upper ends and having contracted circular lower ends, said openings and cones being arranged in longitudinal series, with longitudinal ribs or projections on the upper side of the screen, between the longitudinal series of openings.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANCISCO, BENDER.

In presence of- J. SOLA VIDAL, MANUEL VILAS. 

